What the Devil do I have here?

[Graeme Bass]

Recently inherited this shotgun but I am having a LOT of trouble finding out too much about it. I know it needs cleaning and isn't in the best shape but here are some pics if you gents could help in anyway it would be great.
(Sorry for pic quality but I am forced to use my cell phone as my camera is dead.)

There is a number on the receiver that reads 66436 but the digits are about a centimeter apart. There is also 2 watermarks that appear to be a star with a slash through it. I am having trouble taking it apart so I cannot check under the barrels right now.

[George M. Purtill]

I don't recognize it at all but other people might know what that is. It's not from Meriden.

[Jay Gardner]

A Belgian made knock-off Parker? It does not appear to be a real Parker.

[Rick Losey]

not a Parker Bothers, nor do I think this is one of the Birmingham England Parkers.


the best way to tell for sure is to look at the proof marks - they will be on the underside of the barrels ahead of the flats.

you could post pictures here or compare them to the Belgium marks shown here
http://www.phoenixinvestmentarms.com/archives/Proofmarks.pdf

[Graeme Bass]

Thank you for that although I couldn't see the one I just found. I managed to take the bugger apart here is a pic of the underside of the barrels.

[Eldon Goddard]

I think the crown over bp is a birmingham proof mark. At least it looks like the one in my book by W.W. Greener.

[Rick Losey]

yes - those are Birmingham marks - and marked "choke' instead of "not for ball" (earlier -used from 1875 to 1887) that will help date it

the 13 and 15 are bore sizes

[Brian Dudley]

This would be an inexpensive "hardware store gun" as they call them. Usually made in Belgium. However this one, as with some, was made in England as the proof marks hint. These would have been argue low end of the gun making trade. These types of guns are usually relegated as wall hangers today. Carrying a value of not much more than a few hundred dollars. Yours looks to be in better condition than most. If it is tight with diecent bores, the. It is in better shape than most for sure.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

First one I've ever seen that was marked "The Parker Gun" that's kind of interesting in itself.

DLH

[Bill Murphy]

Good catch, Destry, and in a very Parkerlike script. Maybe Bill Mullins should be wary of a copyright violation.